Couples Who Equally Share Childcare Duties Have Better Sex Lives

You want better sex? Here’s one way to spice it up in the bedroom: split childcare duties with your husband.

Sociologists from the Georgia State University in Atlanta found that couples who equally share childcare duties have better sex lives than those who don’t. They also found that these couples who both contribute to tasks such as enforcing discipline, implementing the rules, giving appropriate praise, and playing with the kids also have better quality relationships than couples who don’t.

“One of the most important findings is that the only childcare arrangement that appears really problematic for the quality of both a couple’s relationship and sex life is when the woman does most or all of the childcare,” says Daniel Carlson, lead study author and assistant professor of sociology at Georgia State University. While it does not increase the frequency of having sex, egalitarian couples—those who share child care duties equally—were more satisfied with the amount of sex they were having as compared to traditional couples, where men bring home the bacon and women are left to do household chores and child care.

Moms need not monopolize childcare duties. Taking on more responsibilities than you can handle, without neglecting your husband or yourself can take a toll on your well-being. In an article by relationship coach and A-ha Trainer Aileen M. Santos for SmartParenting.com.ph, she emphasizes communication as one of the key ways to grow an amazing marriage. “Even though you were 'joined as one' doesn’t mean you can now read each other’s minds. Simply tell him what you need.” So all you need to do, really, is ask for your husband’s help if you need it.

The good thing is dads now are more involved with child care than their fathers before them. Stay-at-home or work-at-home dads are not totally unheard of anymore. Surely, he’d be more than willing to do his share. After all, there’s nothing bad about making time for the kids and spending time with them.